Rethinking Lawns: Can Alternatives Support Wildlife & Climate Resilience?

Please join us for "Rethinking Lawn: Can Alternatives Support Wildlife & Climate Resilience?" with Becky Barak of The Chicago Botanic Garden on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at 2:30 pm (Central Time).

Traditional lawns require many resources-water, fertilizer, time and energy yet they support little wildlife, absorb little water and store little carbon. Can we transform our lawns into spaces that meet our needs, wildlife's needs and improve sustainability? The Chicago Botanic Garden in collaboration with other Chicago area institutions seek to answer this question by planting test plots of plants that might work as lawn alternatives. Some plants they are testing include microclover, fine fescue, mixes of sedges, short prairie grasses, prairie mini-meadows (short & tall versions). Come hear what scientists are learning from this exciting study.

Photo credits: Chicago Botanic Garden

Speaker Bio

Rebecca Barak is an Assistant Conservation Scientist at Chicago Botanic Garden and Adjunct Professor at Northwestern University in the Program in Plant Biology and Conservation. Becky studies seed biology and biodiversity in restored tallgrass prairies, and how decisions are made for restoration, particularly for seed mix design.